Written by David Tran

When I'm designing characters or creatures, realistic or cartoony, I always think of proportions. Even when I do not think it will help much, I'll do it anyway just to see the result. I can always go back to my original if I don't think it works for the piece. A very easy way of doing this is by drawing characters in a silhouette form. No details - just a blob of shapes to pick and choose from. They're also great for designing poses, very quick and effective.

Proportions can also add a story or an idea of how the character will move or interact with others, or with the scene itself.

For instance:

• Designs 1 and 2, the ones underneath now make the first one seem like a tin can, maybe a more futuristic type of suit, heavier and slower. In number two, I just like how the head squishes and fills up inside the helmet.
• Design number three, overweight and squat, he can still manage a run if he wanted to. While the one beneath him, after really pushing the size, I imagine him no longer being able to run but rather waddling along.
• Design number four, after pushing his upper body size more, he now has a similar physique to a gorilla. A stronger upper body poses more of a threat. You can imagine this working with creature designs.

Playing with your designs can really help a lot, especially if you're not satisfied with your original design, stuck, or just want to explore. But keep in mind that silhouettes are best for this. Hope this helps!

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